Sequential dual window operating mechanism

ABSTRACT

Mechanism for sequentially operating dual window panels of a vehicle including vent and main section window panels includes a member which may be in the form of a sector shiftably connected to a support, with a pair of arms movably mounted on the support and respectively connected in raising and lowering relation to the window panels, there being a set of links which translate shifting movements of the member to the arms such that when the member is moved in one direction the arms sequentially lower the window panels and when the members move in the opposite direction the arms sequentially raise the window panels.

United States Patent 1191 Mummert Aug. 26, 1975 SEQUENTIAL DUAL WINDOW OPERATING MECHANISM [75] Inventor: Thomas M. Mummert, Toledo, Ohio [73] Assignee: Dura Corporation, Southfield, Mich.

[22] Filed: Feb. 7, 1974 21 Appl. No.: 440,321

3,788,005 1/1974 Mistopoulos, Jr. 49/103 Primary Examiner-Kenneth Downey Attorney, Agent, or FirmHill, Gross, Simpson, Van Santen, Steadman, Chiara & Simpson 5 7 ABSTRACT Mechanism for sequentially operating dual window panels of a vehicle including vent and main section window panels'includes a member which may be in the form of a sector shiftably connected to a support, with a pair of arms movably mounted on the support and respectively connected in raising and lowering relation to the window panels, there being a set of links which translate shifting movements of the member to the arms such that when the member is moved in one direction the arms sequentially lower the window panels and when the members move in the opposite direc tion the arms sequentially raise the window panels.

13 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTED AUG 2 81975 SHIT 1 (1F 2 PATENTED AUG 2 6 1975 SZEZET 2 BF SEQUENTIAL DUAL WINDOW OPERATING MECHANISM This invention relates to mechanism especially devised for so called vertical drop vent window systems, also sometimes referred to as multiple stage window regulators, and relates particularly to mechanism for sequentially operating dual window panels of a vehicle including vent and main visibility section window panels.

Representative of vertical drop vent window systems, or as also sometimes referred to multiple stage window regulators are US. Pat. Nos. 3,670,454 and 3,733,748. These patents disclose window regulator mechanisms for raising and lowering in a window opening in a vehicle body structure dual window panels vertically divided into a ventilation or vent panel and a visibility section or main window panel. The window regulator mechanism may be power or manually operated and functions to raise or lower the window panels in controlled sequence. Assuming the panels to be in the raised or closed window condition, actuation of the window regulator mechanism results in the vent panel being lowered into the body or most generally the front door of the vehicle to provide a ventilation exhaust opening. During descent of the vent panel the visibility or main panel section remains in its fully raised position until the vent panel reaches a predetermined down position whereupon the main panel section may be lowered to its full down position. Of course, either of the dual panels may be partially opened or lowered if desired. To raise or close the window, reverse procedure is effected, in that the main panel is raised and reaches its fully up or closed position whereafter the vent panel moves up into its raised, closed position.

Characteristic of prior constructions, such as the window regulator systems of the foregoing two patents, has been the requirement for special catches, latches, cam slots, special surface finishes, and the like.

An important object of the present invention is to overcome the foregoing and other disadvantages, inefficiencies, shortcomings and problems in prior window operating mechanisms and to attain important improvements and advantages by the provision of a novel mechanism for sequentially operating dual window panels.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved dual window pane] operating mechanism having novel control and motion translating means.

A further object of the invention is to provide dual window panel operating mechanism having novel window arm controlling and motion translating link arrangement.

Still another object of the invention is to provide new and improved mechanism for sequentially operating dual window panels without the need for any latches or catches, which is durable, simple and compact in construction, easy to install as a unitary device, and efficient and reliable in operation.

Other objects, features and advantages of the inven' tion will be readily apparent from the following description of certain preferred embodiments thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings although variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts embodied in the disclosure, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing mechanism embodying features of the present invention in the raised window condition;

FIG. 2 shows the mechanism in the vent panel lowered condition;

FIG. 3 shows the mechanism in the condition where both window panels are lowered;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional detail view taken substantially along the line IVIV of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional detail view showing a modification.

Referring to FIG. 1, mechanism 10 embodying features of the invention is constructed and arranged for sequentially lowering and raising dual window panels of a vehicle, such as an automobile, and comprising a vent window panel 11 and a main visibility section window panel 12. In a preferred construction, the mechanism 10 is in the form of a self-contained unitary assembly mounted on a support in the form of a generally vertically elongated plate 13 which is especially adapted to be mounted within a portion of a vehicle body structure, such as a door. Such a body structure, and more particularly a door, as is well known, has spaced vertical panels defining, in effect, a well below the window to receive the window panel or panels when the window is opened. In particular, as indicated in FIG. 4, such a vehicle door will have inner panel structure 14 to which the support plate 13 is mounted in a preferred manner such as by means of screws or bolts, (not shown). It will also be understood that within the door cavity or well there will be mounted suitable window guide and door glass run and bracket assembly structure. Since details of the door structure and the window guide and run and bracket assembly are conventional structures greater elaboration herein is not believed necessary, and attention is directed to US. Pat. No. 3,670,454 if more particular disclosure is desired. To the extent necessary, disclosure of such details in said US. Pat. No. 3,670,454 are incorporated herein by reference.

Control of the Window panels 11 and 12 by the mechanism 10 is through a pair of arms 15 and 17 movably mounted on the support 13. In a preferred arrangement, the arm 15 is of generally bellcrank shape, and the arm 17 is of generally dogleg shape, both of the arms being constructed as flat levers. The arms are pivotally connected to the support 13 by means of a pivot pin 18 which is rotatably journaled in a bushing bearing 19 carried by the upper portion of the plate 13 (FIG. 4). On this pivot pin 18 the arm 15 has its flat elbow portion freely pivotally mounted on the pin 18 between the adjacent portion of the support plate 13 and the flat adjacent end portion of the arm 17 which is keyed and fixedly secured to a flatted terminal portion 20 of the pin 18. Conveniently, the pivot pin 18 comprises part of counterbalancing means for the arm 17 and including a helical torsion spring 21 having its inner end anchored in an axial slot 22 in the end of the pin opposite to the key terminal 20 and having its outer end anchored to an anchoring lug 23 struck from the support plate 13.

From the pivot pin 18, a long portion of the lever arm 15 extends in a normally upward and lateral direction relative to the support plate 13 to means at the upper free end portion of the arm for coupling it in raising and lowering relation to the vent window panel 11. Herein the coupling means comprise a roller 24 mounted on the end portion of the arm and engaged within a generally horizontally extending channel track carried by the lower portion of the window panel 11. Thereby raising and lowering movements of the upper portion of the arm 15 about its pivotal axis on the pin 18 will effect corresponding raising and lowering movements of the window panel 11.

From its connection with the pivot pin 18, the arm 17 extends upwardly and laterally relative to the support plate 13 and is coupled at its distal end with the panel 12 by means comprising a roller 27 carried by the arm and engaged in a generally horizontal channel track 28 carried by the panel 12. Thereby rocking movements of the arm 17 about the axis provided by the pivot pin 18 will effect raising and lowering movements of the window panel 12.

Means for effecting window raising and lowering movements of the arms 15 and 17 rockably about the axis of the pivot pin 18 include a member 29 in the form of a sector gear plate 29 which is shiftably, i.e. oscillatably, connected to the support plate 13 for movement in opposite directions, as by means of a fixed pivotal connection provided by a rivet 30 located at a suitable distance below the pivot pin 18 and with a gear portion of the member 29 below the pivot 30 and a head portion of the member 29 extending above the pivot 30 and in clearance relation to the adjacent pivotally connected portions of the arms 15 and 17. Selective oscillations of the member 29 are effected by suit able means in one form comprising a reversible electrical motor 31 which may be of the kind commonly employed with window regulators and which has in a unit therewith a worm gear housing 32 suitably secured as by means of screws 33 (FIG. 4) to the lower end portion of the support plate 13. Operating control of the motor 31 may be through an electrical circuit controlled by means of a manual switch conveniently located within the associated vehicle, as in common practice with remote control window regulators. Power transmission from the motor 31 to the member 29 is,by means of a motor actuated pinion 34 meshing with sector gear teeth 35 along the lower edge of the member 29. Oscillating shifting movements of the sector gear member 29 are translated into window panel raising and lowering movements of the arms 15 and 17 by a set of arm controlling links 37 operating when the member 29 moves in one direction to move the arms sequentially downwardly to lower the window panels 11 and 12 sequentially and operating when the member 29 moves in the opposite direction to move the arms sequentially upwardly to raise the window panels sequentially. In a preferred construction just four links comprise the set 37, including a link 38 coupled to the head end portion of the member 29, a control link 39 coupled to the support plate 13 and to one end portion of the link 38, and a pair of links 40 and 41 coupled respectively to the arms 15 and 17 and to the opposite end portion of the link 38.

As shown, the links 38 and 39 are desirably of equal length shorter than the links 40 and 41. Suitable coupling means such as a pivot rivet 42 connects the link 38 midway intermediate its ends to the sector gear member 29. Means comprising a pivot rivet 43 connects the links 38 and 39 and means comprising a pivot rivet 44 connects the link 39 to the support plate 13. Means comprising a pivot rivet 45 connects the links 40 and 41 to the link 38. Means comprising a pivot rivet 47 connects the link 40 to the lower end portion of a generally downwardly extending crank arm 15a of the lever 15. Means comprising a pivot rivet 48 connects the link 41 to the lever arm 17 intermediate its ends, and more particularly at juncture of the dogleg portions of this arm. In a preferred arrangement the distance between the pivot 43 and the pivots 44 and 45 is substantially equal. The distance between the pivots 45 and 47 is slightly less than the distance between the pivot 47 and the pivot 18. The distance between the pivots 45 and 48 is greater than the distance between the pivots 47 and 18.

In the raised window condition of the mechanism 10 as viewed in FIG. 1, the upper portions of the arms 15 and 17 extend generally horizontally in opposite directions, the link 38 extends generally vertically, the link 39 extends generally horizontally but dips down slightly toward the pivot 44 which is spaced in a generally horizontal relation from the pivot 18 and on the opposite side of the link 38 therefrom. The link 40 extends generally horizontally, and the link 41 extends generally vertically. In this closed window condition, the sector member 29 is at one limit of its range of oscillating movements wherein the pivot 42 is adjacently spaced from the pivot 18, and the driving pinion 35 is in engagement with the extreme left hand end of the sector gear teeth 35 as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 4.

Lowering and raising of the vent window panel 11 can be effected without any corresponding movement of the main window panel 12 or in a sequential manner wherein the panel 11 is lowered followed by lowering of the panel 12. Then to close the window, a panel 12 is first raised into closed position followed by raising of the panel 11. Lowering of the panel 11 results from shifting of the sector member 29 as by operation of the motor 31 to swing the member 29 clockwise as viewed in FIG. 2 about its pivot 30 so that its head end swings away from the arm pivot 18, and causing the link 38 to swing into generally horizontal position as controlled by the support-anchored link 39. This causes the connecting pivot 45 for the links 40 and 41 to shift to the right as viewed in FIG. 2, thereby rocking the lever arm 15 counterclockwise to move the panel 11 downwardly. During such movement, the link 38 shifts the pivot 45 in an are which is on the radius of the pivot 48 so that the link 41 merely swings idly and the arm 17 remains in the raised window relation with respect to the window panel 12, aided by the counterbalancing biasing spring 21. The raised condition of the panel 12 persists until the vent panel 1 1 is fully lowered as shown in FIG. 2. If merely vent opening of the window is desired, the lowered open condition of the window panel 11 and the raised closed window position of the panel 12 may be permitted to persist as long as convenient. It will be understood, of course, that lowering of the vent panel 11 may be terminated at any incremental lowered position to which it may be desired to adjust the same for venting purposes and from which it may be returned to closed position or to fully lowered position, as desired, all without movement of the main window panel 12.

When it is desired to lower the main window panel 12, clockwise swinging of the sector gear member 29 is continued beyond the range for fully lowering the vent panel 1 1. As the sector gear 29 continues to swing counterclockwise, the control link 39 causes the intermediate link 38 to swing clockwise about the pivot 42,

thereby depressing the link 41 while the link 40 now idles as the pivot 45 describes an arc on the radius of the pivot 47. This causes the lever arm 17 to rock clockwise downwardly about the pivot 18 and lower the window panel 12 correspondingly to whatever extent is desired as controlled by operation of the motor 31. In the fully loweredpos ition of the window panel 12, as shown in FIG. 3, the right hand'end portion of the sector gear teeth 35 is in engagement with the pin ion 34. In view of the customary worm gear drive, the lowered position of the panel 12 is held against the counterbalancing bias of the spring 21. In closing the window from the fully opened condition, reverse swinging movement of the'sector gear member 29, that is counterclockwise swinging as seen in FIGS. 1-3, causes a reversal of the set of links 37 wherein initially the lever arm 17 is swung upwardly to raise the window panel 12 and after ithas reached its fully'closed position, the lever arm 15 is swung upwardly to raise the vent panel 11 to its closed position.

Where manual operation of the mechanism is preferred over motor driven operation, the arrangement depicted in FIG. 5 may be employed, wherein the mechanism is in general respects the same as the mechanism 10 of FIGS. l-3 including a support plate 13 mounted on door panel 14 and shiftably oscillatably mounting a sector gear member 29' on a pivot 30'. In this instance the sector gear member 29 is oscillat ably shifted through a pinion 34' meshing with sector gear teeth 35' on the lower edge of the member 29', but driving of the pinion 34' is by means ofa crank handle 50. The handle is located conveniently accessible inside the vehicle and for this purpose is keyed to a shaft 51 rotatably mounted in and extending through and in association with a friction clutch device 52 with the pinion 34 keyed to the inner end of the shaft. Thus, by operation of the handle 50 to swing the member 29' about its pivot 30', all of the sequential raising and lowering functions as described for the mechanism 10 can be effected, it being understood that portions of the mechanism 10' not shown will be the same as the mechanism 10.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the present invention provides a new and improved sequential dual window operating mechanism which functions without catches, cams, cam slots, latches, special surface finishes, and the like. All of the sequential raising and lowering movements of the dual window panels are effected efficiently by the lever arm controlling and motion translating set of four links connected to one another, to the lever arms, to the oscillatable sector and to the supporting plate. The mechanism comprises a neat compact unit that can be bench assembled and installed as a unit in a vehicle in which it is to be used.

It will be understood that variations and modifications may be effected wituout departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of this invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In mechanism for sequentially lowering and raising dual window panels of a vehicle comprising vent and main visibility section window panels:

a support;

a pair of window controlling arms movably mounted on said support;

one of said arms having means for coupling it in raising and lowering relation with the other of said window panels;

a member, having a pivot oscillatably coupling the member to said support for movement in opposite directions; i

a set of links controlling said arms and translating shifting movements of said member into window panel lowering and raising movements of said arms,

and comprising:

a first relatively short control link having an intermediate pivot connecting it to said member;

a second relatively short control link having a pivot at one end coupling it with said support and having a pivot at its opposite end pivotally coupling it with one end of said first control link;

a pair of driving links longer than said control links and having a common pivot connecting them at one end of their ends to one another and to the opposite end of said first control link;

I one of said driving links having-a pivot coupling its opposite end to one of said arms; and I v the other of said driving links having a pivot connecting its opposite end to the other. of said arms; 1

said set of links being effective when said member moves in one direction to move said arms sequentially downwardly to lower the window panels sequentially; and

said set of links being effective when said member moves in the opposite direction to move said arms sequentially upwardly to raise said window panels sequentially.

2. Mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said member has sector gear teeth below its pivotal coupling and has a head portion above said pivot coupling, means on its support providing a pinion meshing with said gear teeth and operable to effect shifting of said member oscillatably by operation of the pinion, said first control link being coupled with said head portion.

3. Mechanism according to claim 2, including a reversible motor mounted on said support for driving said pinion.

4. Mechanism according to claim 2, including a hand operated crank handle device mounted on said support for driving said pinion.

5. Mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said intermediately pivoted link controls said pair of driving links to function sequentially in the movement of said member in one direction for lowering the window panels sequentially and controls said driving links to function in movement of the member in the opposite direc- .tion for raising the window panels sequentially in reverse order to the lowering of the window panels.

6. Mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said support comprises a common mounting plate to which are directly pivotally connected said member, said arms, and said second link of said set of links; and means mounted on said support for driving said member oscillatably.

7. Mechanism according to claim 1, including a common pivot shaft for said arms rotatably journaled in said support, one of said arms being keyed to said shaft, and the other of said arms being freely rotatably supported on said shaft, and a counterbalancing spring anchored to said support and anchored to said shaft and normally biasing the shaft in direction to bias the keyed arm in window pane] raising direction.

8. Mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said links cooperate to move one of said arms throughout a downward range of movement before moving the other of said arms during movement of said member in one direction and then moving the other of said arms downwardly as the member continues moving in said one direction while said one arm remains stationary in its lowermost position, and movement of said member in the opposite direction effecting movement of said other arm first to raise it to its uppermost position and thereafter raising of said one arm to its uppermost position while said other arm remains stationary in its uppermost position.

9. Mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said links control said arm always to precede and complete lowering movement before said other arm is moved through its range of lowering movement.

10. Mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said one controlling arm is of generally bell crank form pivotally connected intermediate its ends to said support and having crank arms diverging from the pivotal connection, one of said crank arms being coupled to said one window panel, and the pivot which connects said one driving link to said one controlling arm being located at the distal end of the other of the crank arms.

11. Mechanism according to claim 10, wherein said other window controlling arm is pivotally mounted at one end on the same pivot as said intermediate pivot of said bell crank arm and is provided at its opposite end with said means for coupling it with the other of said window panels, and the pivot of said other of said driving links which connects it to said other controlling arm being located intermediate the ends of said other controlling arm and substantially spaced from the opposite ends of said other controlling arm.

12. Mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said member comprises a sector gear, and a drive motor drivingly coupled with said sector gear for effecting oscillations of the sector gear, the drive motor being mounted on the same side of said support as the sector gear.

13. Mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said member comprises a sector gear, means for driving the sector gear oscillatably mounted on said support, the sector gear having an extension projecting a substantial distance from said sector gear pivot, said intermediate pivot of said first control link being located on said extension substantially spaced from said sector gear pivot, and the pivot coupling said second control link with the support being located in substantially spaced relation to the distal end of said extension and offset to one side of said sector gear. 

1. In mechanism for sequentially lowering and raising dual window panels of a vehicle comprising vent and main visibility section window panels: a support; a pair of window controlling arms movably mounted on said support; one of said arms having means for coupling it in raising and lowering relation with the other of said window panels; a member having a pivot oscillatably coupling the member to said support for movement in opposite directions; a set of links controlling said arms and translating shifting movements of said member into window panel lowering and raising movements of said arms, and comprising: a first relatively short control link having an intermediate pivot connecting it to said member; a second relatively short control link having a pivot at one end coupling it with said support and having a pivot at its opposite end pivotally coupling it with one end of said first control link; a pair of driving links longer than said control links and having a common pivot connecting them at one end of their ends to one another and to the opposite end of said first control link; one of said driving links having a pivot coupling its opposite end to one of said arms; and the other of said driving links having a pivot connecting its opposite end to the other of said arms; said set of links being effective when said member moves in one direction to move said arms sequentially downwardly to lower the window panels sequentially; and said set of links being effective when said member moves in the opposite direction to move said arms sequentially upwardly to raise said window panels sequentially.
 2. Mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said member has sector gear teeth below its pivotal coupling and has a head portion above said pivot coupling, means on its support providing a pinion meshing with said gear teeth and operable to effect shifting of said member oscillatably by operation of the pinion, said first control link being coupled with said head portion.
 3. Mechanism according to claim 2, including a reversible motOr mounted on said support for driving said pinion.
 4. Mechanism according to claim 2, including a hand operated crank handle device mounted on said support for driving said pinion.
 5. Mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said intermediately pivoted link controls said pair of driving links to function sequentially in the movement of said member in one direction for lowering the window panels sequentially and controls said driving links to function in movement of the member in the opposite direction for raising the window panels sequentially in reverse order to the lowering of the window panels.
 6. Mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said support comprises a common mounting plate to which are directly pivotally connected said member, said arms, and said second link of said set of links; and means mounted on said support for driving said member oscillatably.
 7. Mechanism according to claim 1, including a common pivot shaft for said arms rotatably journaled in said support, one of said arms being keyed to said shaft, and the other of said arms being freely rotatably supported on said shaft, and a counterbalancing spring anchored to said support and anchored to said shaft and normally biasing the shaft in direction to bias the keyed arm in window panel raising direction.
 8. Mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said links cooperate to move one of said arms throughout a downward range of movement before moving the other of said arms during movement of said member in one direction and then moving the other of said arms downwardly as the member continues moving in said one direction while said one arm remains stationary in its lowermost position, and movement of said member in the opposite direction effecting movement of said other arm first to raise it to its uppermost position and thereafter raising of said one arm to its uppermost position while said other arm remains stationary in its uppermost position.
 9. Mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said links control said arm always to precede and complete lowering movement before said other arm is moved through its range of lowering movement.
 10. Mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said one controlling arm is of generally bell crank form pivotally connected intermediate its ends to said support and having crank arms diverging from the pivotal connection, one of said crank arms being coupled to said one window panel, and the pivot which connects said one driving link to said one controlling arm being located at the distal end of the other of the crank arms.
 11. Mechanism according to claim 10, wherein said other window controlling arm is pivotally mounted at one end on the same pivot as said intermediate pivot of said bell crank arm and is provided at its opposite end with said means for coupling it with the other of said window panels, and the pivot of said other of said driving links which connects it to said other controlling arm being located intermediate the ends of said other controlling arm and substantially spaced from the opposite ends of said other controlling arm.
 12. Mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said member comprises a sector gear, and a drive motor drivingly coupled with said sector gear for effecting oscillations of the sector gear, the drive motor being mounted on the same side of said support as the sector gear.
 13. Mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said member comprises a sector gear, means for driving the sector gear oscillatably mounted on said support, the sector gear having an extension projecting a substantial distance from said sector gear pivot, said intermediate pivot of said first control link being located on said extension substantially spaced from said sector gear pivot, and the pivot coupling said second control link with the support being located in substantially spaced relation to the distal end of said extension and offset to one side of said sector gear. 